Circular Economy - Circular Cities

Circular Economy - Circular Cities The chapter “Measuring the circular economy in cities and regions’ offers an analysis of information collected on measurement frameworks for the circular economy from the OECD Inventory of Circular Economy Indicators. The chapter shows the scope and scales of the measurement framework of circular economy and the challenges of measurement that are involved (OECD, 2020). It also shares several selected indicators that can be used to implement circular economy strategies to achieve sustainable use of resources in the economy.

Measuring the progress and impacts of a circular economy is done to attain four main objectives of raising awareness, making the case for the circular economy; eliciting actions; monitoring performance, and assessing outcomes. Awareness of obstacles that impact the implementation of circular economy is necessary to raise awareness about sustainable production and consumption (OECD, 2020). Concerning making the case for a circular economy, the chapter focuses on laying bare the benefits of this economic model. Job creation, cutting down pollution, and promoting sustainable development are some of the key benefits of a circular economy that the world ought to know (OECD, 2020).

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Adequate information about the circular economy is meant to help policymakers to come up with policies, strategies, and action plans that support the model to promote aspects such as urban metabolism. The measuring framework offers an opportunity to evaluate the performance and progress made through the implementation of the circular economy.

The OECD Inventory gathered about 400 circular-economy-linked indicators that are measured to determine various aspects of the economic model (OECD, 2020). The main categories of the circular economy indicators are governance, infrastructure and technology, environmental, economic and business, and social. Paris has a circular economy that is anchored on 5 categories of indicators, namely environment, governance, economic and business, infrastructure and technology, and jobs. Of these indicators, environment accounts for 39% whereas governance 34%, underpinning how the two are major focus areas. Under each indicator, there exist several sub-categories that determine specific areas of interest. Some subsectors do not fall under specific sectors, hence indicating ‘no sector’. According to information gathered in OECD inventory, environmental indicators dominate, accounting for 39% (OECD, 2020). There are further divided into smaller subcategories of output material process, production and consumption, savings, emissions indicators, and others. Others stand for indicators that are below 1%.

Governance indicators account for about one-third of sampled indicators. They represent actions the government can take to promote circular economy and measurement. Under this category, there are subcategories of creating awareness, public procurement, strategy and initiatives, capacity building, innovations and pilot experiments, financing, education, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, collaboration, and regulation (OECD, 2020). All these subcategories are critical in ensuring that the government is taking the right

measures to promote a circular economic model in urban planning. Economic and business indicators cover 18% of the sample and include 8 subcategories of business, investment, savings, productivity, added value, economic efficiency, gains and revenues, and economic infrastructure.

Each subcategory indicates a specific area that can be measured to determine the performance of a circular economy from an economic perspective. Economic and business indicators help the government and stakeholders involved in circular planning to fathom areas or weaknesses and strengths in economic activities towards the realization of a circular economy. On its part, infrastructure and technology indicators account for 8% of the sample, of which 61 percent are connected to centers dedicated to promoting reuse, share, and repairs (OECD, 2020). The technology and infrastructure for promoting a circular economy in urban areas are necessary to achieve a reduction in wastage and pollution. By measuring the levels of infrastructural and technological development attained in supporting reuse, repair, and sharing to reduce waste, the measurement helps policymakers to identify ears they can improve to attain more success. On the other hand, indicators by sector are also explored to measure the circular economy, helping policymakers to under which sectors promote the model or contribute least to its achievement.

Among indicators by sector, waste accounts for 20% of the sample, whereas resources and materials take 10% among others (OECD, 2020). However, it is worth noting that no sectorspecific occupies 31%, leaving the information users with challenges if allocating the percentage to corresponding indicators that are still vital in informing policies impacting the circular economy.

Main challenges in existing measurement frameworks include a wide range of obstacles that policymakers should be aware of when formulating relevant policies. The obstacles that are noted include the lack of a clear and universal definition of circular economy, making it hard to

determine what to exclude or include in the model (OECD, 2020). The indicators are also not harmonized because the measurements are not synchronized, making it hard to evaluate the reliability and strength of every bit of information shared on measurement frameworks. The data shared is also incomplete because some aspects have not been captured historically, making it difficult to rely on such information to make decisions. The lack of integration between the macro-micro-meso levels creates risks that result in conflicting measures and strategies (OECD, 2020). Another challenge is an overemphasis on waste with little focus on how to close the loops. The indicative is not objective-driven, making them less reliable. The analysis on how products are used is not well captured in present indicators and there is also a lack of a systemic approach in circular economy indicators. In essence, the numerous challenges in existing measurement frameworks should be addressed to enhance effectiveness.

The indicators picked from local monitoring frameworks in the cities of Amsterdam, Paris, Toronto, Turku, and Greater Porto Area focus on different areas of interest to a circular economy that respective city administration has adopted. Information shared reveals how some of the cities sampled pay much attention to the economy and business environment, governance, technology and infrastructure, or and job creation, highlighting how urban planning varies from one city to another. Paris implements a two roadmap plan that focuses on a wide range of measures to ensure that there is proper planning and construction, waste management, involvement of local actors, and proper public procurement processes. Some cities focus on more indicators while some focus on a few, which impacts how each manages circular economy (OECD, 2020). For instance, the city of Amsterdam has a circular economy that is centered on three indicators. Selected indicators for setting and implementing circular economy strategies in

cities and regions are arranged in phases, including the setting of the strategy and implementation.

2nd task: Reflect what was learned from chapter 5 to circular mobility or smart mobility.

The study of chapter 5 to circular mobility or smart mobility offers a lot of insights about the circular economy, with a special focus on urban planning. From the study, I have learned about the operational definition of circular economy as a model of production and consumption that encompasses sharing, reusing, and recycling existing materials and products to attainable levels. The main aim of a circular economy is to elongate the life cycle of products and minimize the production of waste. The growing demand for scarce resources requires that cities, which are major consumers of resources, turn to circular economy strategies to enhance activities to turn waste into useful resources that can power the economy while at the same time cutting wastes and pollutions (OECD, 2020). Heavy production of waste in urban areas is a threat to the environment and sustainable development.

I have also learned about why the circular economy is measured, which has expanded my knowledge on the interplay between measuring and policy formulation. Playmakers need reliable information to support them in the decision-making process. Measuring of circular economy is critical in generating information needed to formulate sector-specific policies that promote reuse, sharing, repair, and recycling of products (OECD, 2020). To effectively measure the circular economy, various indicators are used, with each indicator corresponding to a particular area impacting waste generation.

Moreover, under the circular economy topic, it is evident that measurement frameworks are useful in raising awareness about reuse, repair, and recycling. A high level of awareness is necessary to prompt policymakers and other relevant stakeholders to put in place measures to

promote circular economy activities. The monitoring of performance and evaluation of results is also an important aspect of measurement frameworks (OECD, 2020). The evaluation helps cities to detect strategies or activities that work and those that do not work for necessary adjustments.

Environmental indicators form the largest percentage of sampled indicators in OECD inventors, ostensibly because wastages that are generated affect the environment. Environmental indicators are central in determining how particular measures affect the generation of waste and pollution in cities. Other important indicators include governance, economic and business, infrastructure and technology, and jobs. Environmental and governance indicators account for about 70% of the sample because they cover major activities of the circular economy (OECD, 2020). I also learned about gaps in the measurement of the circular economy that should be addressed by planners and policymakers. These gaps include policy, regulatory, financial, capacity, and awareness gaps. Financial gaps are linked to a lack of enough funds to facilitate investment in circular economy activities. On the other hand, regulatory gaps hinder the formulation and implementation of activities related to the reuse, sharing, or general recycling of waste (OECD, 2020). Policy gaps can be seen in the lack of congruency between existing policies and circular economy strategies, hence the need to develop align the two to ensure they are mutually supportive.

About 90% of all air pollution in cities is generated caused by motor vehicles emission, underlining the need to address the transport menace to cut down on pollution. Electric-powers motors are emerging as the best alternative to reduce air pollution in cities across the world.

Cycling and walking are also viable options in cutting down motor pollution (Jain, 2020). The designing of cities’ infrastructure should accommodate all these options to promote safe mobility. Cities usually suffer from congestion problems, mainly to high mobility that is

characterized by heavy use of vehicles as a means of transport. The study has also helped me to learn that circular mobility’s cycle is embedded between sustainable development and innovation. Progress is sustained by new ideas that should support the access, affordability, and effectiveness of a mobility system (Jain, 2020). Sustainable development guarantees future generations the same enjoyment of natural resources as the current generation. To achieve this without compromising development, innovations are handy (OECD, 2020). The invention of electric-powered cars is an example of how innovations can support sustainable development.

The study also helped me to learn about salient features of circular mobility that one must look at when promoting the model in city planning. The features include accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness of a mobility system (Jain, 2020). Access is necessary to ensure that the targeted population uses the system to tame wastages and pollution. Closely related is the affordability of the system that determines access and use (OECD, 2020). Lastly and most important, is the effectiveness of the system, which is required to promote its use. Nevertheless, other aspects such as the design of motor vehicles and general transport systems in urban areas are necessary to support circular mobility.

From the study, I also learned about a multi-modal mobility structure that incorporates public transportation in combination with on-demand cars as a flexible last-mile solution. The topic also taught us about how a circular mobility system is multi-modal, implying that it can offer a wide range of mobility options that reflect and meets varying urban areas and their people (Jain, 2020). Cities are highly diversified in terms of needs, underpinning the need for a multimodal mobility structure to attain effectiveness and efficiency. In this kind of structure, there is the incorporation of services such as public transportation with on-demand services (OECD, 2020). Cities across the world are implementing a multimodal structure that has a myriad of

transport options such as train systems, shared bikes, and shared cars to deal with the problem of congestion and infective transport system.

From the topic, I have also learned about how new technologies play a vital role in circular mobility. Electric-powered, shared, and automated transportation transport systems are a new frontier in circular mobility and combating pollution in cities. The use of electric-powered transport systems, shared, and self-driven cars are some of the benefits of technologies that are changing how cities are addressing the issue of mobility (Jain, 2020). An electric-powered transport system reduces pollution that is synonymous with the use of petrol products in powering motor engines.

In conclusion, from chapter 5 to circular mobility or smart mobility, I have learned about aspects of circular economy and mobility that cities should focus on to attain sustainable development and environmental protection. Circular economy and circular mobility are connected to saving or resources, reducing pollution, and enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in the management of cities. The study has offered an avalanche of information that can be used in my future career as an employee in city management, policymaker, and environmentalist. The knowledge gained can also be used at personal levels to implement circular economy measures at home or in private businesses I may run in the future. The role of addressing wastages and pollution in cities requires support from all stakeholders, although the biggest burden lies with policymakers and implementers to ensure that cities have sound policies and strategies that support circular mobility and a circular economy.

References Jain, D. (2020). Circular Mobility For a Resilient Urban Environment. https://www.circularcities.asia/post/circular-mobility-for-a-resilient-urban-environment.

OECD (2020). The circular economy in cities and regions: Synthesis report. OECD publishing.